SO....finalllly I have the heart 'issue' under control (I think). I'm really not getting any chest pains anymore, and my palpitations have been few and far between..which has been great. But this darn short of breath issue is beyond annoying! I do notice that if I concentrate on belly breathing, it does help. Also, I don't have this shortness of breath/smothering feeling all the time. Sometimes i'm fine, and sometimes it pops up. It's not like i'm struggling for air when i'm talking or anything, it just feels like i'm overbreathing almost and is uncomfortable. I started bartending yesterday and it started getting it really bad to where I almost just left..but I took half of a xanax and tried to stand still and concentrate on belly breathing and it seemed to help quite a bit. If this was a serious issue, would it just come & go like this? My throat even slighty burns sometimes..like it's had too much air or something. Just curious as to what u guys think

I had this all day and everyday for months. It only started to recede recently. But I still get it daily, just not all day long. The reason for it is likely just what you said. Chronic overbbreathing. You do it for long enough, your body gets used to it and BAM...it's the new norm. Xanax, therapy and lots of patience helped me get through.Hope is the only thing stronger than fear.

Thank you MTGAQ..besides xanax and therapy..do you have any pointers to stop thinking about my breathing so much and just let it happen? I overthink it a lot too and then I feel like i'm forcing myself to breathe, like it feels almost like I forgot how. And then I get this struggling to breathe feeling. I can't stand having anything near my mouth now as it feels like i'm suffocating. Always something..!!! Ugh.

I agree with mom. As far as additional pointers, the more you practice belly breathing, the more control you'll find you have and the less over breathing and worrying you'll do. This is what my therapist says. If only I would take his advice. This happened to me years ago when I did listen to him and it really does work!34 yr old female, mom to one sweet boy and wife to one wonderful man. Anxiety, Panic Diorder, Insomnia & IBS-D

"Do not anticipate trouble, or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight." Benjamin Franklin

And I agree with park, belly breathing is like the only breathing technique that I can do. The rest make me want to jump out of my skin.

I waited my breathing issue out. I had 4 terrible months and after test were done, I started to finally belive that it was just really anxiety. Once I started to believe, I was able to focus on other things VERY SLOWLY, like cleaning my house or doing laundry or talking to a friend. If I could get my thoughts of the breath for even 5 minutes a day I was happy.

It will get better, I promise. Park and I are living proof of that. It's just really hard work.Hope is the only thing stronger than fear.

Gmoon, i used xanax exactly the way you are for years, just a little to get through the work day, once you have the breathing thing under control you may discover your anxiety is also gone, that cant get airfeeling will actually cause the anxiety, Peace

I've seen a cardiologist and my GP, but never for the breathing issues. I'm pretty confident that it's nothing more than anxiety because when I'm on my Xanax and stress free or when I REALLY work HARD at my breathing exercises, I feel just fine. I work with my CBT therapist on practicing my breathing, but in pretty sure if it were something serious it would have shown up in some of my physicals or something like that. I've been struggling with this issue on and off for years, so while I still lose my mind and fear hyperventilating or passing out, my logical mind knows that this just hasn't ever happened. You can become a chronic over breather though, so it's always good practice your nice slow breaths. You can actually train yourself to be a better breather.

I wish I would take my own advice and practice my breathing more. I've slacked over the past couple years and I know it would help my IBS too. Maybe I'll practice during nap time today.34 yr old female, mom to one sweet boy and wife to one wonderful man. Anxiety, Panic Diorder, Insomnia & IBS-D

"Do not anticipate trouble, or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight." Benjamin Franklin

For me, they did a pulmonary function test. I had to go to a respiratory therapist and he ran me through a couple tests where you had to breathe into a tube a couple different ways. Then I saw a cardiac pulmonologist later that afternoon to go through the results, which were all fine. I've also went to an ENT to make sure my throat wasn't constricting (which even if it was, it's treated the same way as anxiety).Hope is the only thing stronger than fear.

Hi G Moon, thanks so much for replying to my post recently. Being a mother puts my health anxiety on high alert. I can completely sympathize with your story. Somehow, someway you will make it through this. That's what I think for myself. I find ways to cope but this stuff is relentless. I hope that you had a good day today!

no problem at all loveowen..I love trying to help anyone I can out & share what I go through so people don't feel alone. It's nice to have a place where people can relate to you and not think you're nuts! :) Hope you have a peaceful symptom-free night!

Sounds great G. Your mind should be put as ease after that. My doctor actually administered a less in depth pulmonary function test in her office, so if you pass that one, you may not even have to go to the lung doc. Good luck and keep us updated:)Hope is the only thing stronger than fear.

Good morning everyone. I have been struggling with the breathing issue for months now. (Interesting isn't it? I've managed to get through four months???) When I am busy or distracted it doesn't exist - the moment I have a nano-second to think it is there, driving me insane. During Christmas I was so occupied that it didn't even occur to me to check my breathing. I do the breathing exercises or deep belly breathing. It is not an uncommon symptom of anxiety/panic. I refuse to let it get to the panic stage. Isn't it odd that when you are sleeping you don't worry about breathing? Of course our bodies KNOW how to breathe - it's all in the head, like every other anxiety symptom I've had. This breathing thing is just ONE MORE SYMPTOM to get through. I wake up in the morning, get out of bed and once I look in the mirror, or realize it's one more day "it" begins. I get the idea that I CAN'T breathe. It is an issue to deal with and overcome, just like all the others, palpitations, jitters, fast pulse, etc., etc., etc. There is a cd that has helped me a lot (at least NO panic attacks for months - only anxiety) it is by Dr. Claire Weekes (who is now deceased). Her voice and what she has to say HELPS tremendously. I also keep her book, Hope and Help for your Nerves, with me all of the time - even at work. There have been many others who have based their books off of her original publishing but hers still seems to make the most sense to me.

Hugs to all - there are millions of us out here dealing with these daily anxiety/panic issues. THANK God for this site - it has been the best of all of them - and believe me, I've tried them. This site has great moderators who PAY ATTENTION and have advice that is usable...not just a pat on the back.

Thank you Reepin!!! Yes I also notice that I don't always have the breathing 'issue'..although sometimes even when i'm busy at work i do have it because i'm worried about getting it at work so it's on my mind. There is times though then when my mind is preoccupied i will think 'Hm! I haven't thought about breathing at all and I don't feel like it's hard to breathe!" ...then i'll get it. lol.

Yeah, today is another one of those days. I am not quite busy enough so my mind is not as occupied as I'd like it. I find myself "trying to breathe" deeply. I refuse to let it get to the panic mode! I KNOW that my breathing is fine...why can't my head grasp that? I keep thinking, When will I ever be "normal" again - or, WILL I ever breathe normally again? These stupid symptoms...always seems to be something.

I hope that both of us will get over this soon - or at least come to our senses that we CAN breathe - our body knows how to breathe, it can't stop if it wanted to. Hugs GMoon!